Around 350 years back, the British came into our nation and thus their culture, religion, language and practices entwined with ours. Bengal, the land of many stories, has always been open and welcoming to new cultures. Portuguese Augustinian missionaries came in from Portugal as Vasco da Gama showed the route and thus a new religion Christianity was introduced in Dhaka.
The Holy Rosary Church is the second church built in Dhaka. It was formed in 1677 at Tejgaon, Farmgate, as the Holy Cross missionary set up their seminarians to devote to Christianity.
Besides the Parish Church in Old Dhaka and the Oxford Missionary Home in Barisal, this one is the oldest example of its kind that can be found in Bangladesh.
The Holy Rosary Church premises houses one of the two Catholic cemeteries in Dhaka. It is one of the few churches with a graveyard which reinforces the traditional way to religious principles. In 1628, they established a church, called the Church of the Assumption, in Narinda, currently known as Tikatuli and the War Cemetery Church located in Comilla are the only existing churches, along with The Holy Rosary Church with an adjacent cemetery.
It is a Roman Catholic Church and the second oldest establishment found of its kind in Dhaka. Not only for its religious significance, but its architectural significances and amazing encored traditional antique carvings make this church a heritage site for visit.
"We love to be a part of other people's sorrows. Rather than being beside them in times of joy, we want to stand beside them in times of distress and this church has been a patient listener to their prayers for almost four hundred years now," shares sister Renu when asked about how she left being a part of this church.
The inscription on the apex of the Church shows a date in Arabic numerals 1677, built by the Portuguese Augustinian Fathers but many also believe it was built in the 16th century. Currently, 15,650 Catholics devotees are practicing their religious beliefs with this church. Fr Albert T Rozario is parish priest (head) of this church and Fr Mintu L Palma, with Fr Ronjit C Gomes and Fr Ignatius Parimal Rozario are serving there as assistant parish priests, helping Fr Albert to serve the followers of the church without and disturbance. Each Sunday Catholics gather there for Sunday mass and thousands devotee join there.
This church also runs two schools, Holy Cross College for girls, run by the Holy Cross Sisters, and Notre Dame College for boys run by the Holy Cross Fathers. Recently, they have also formed the Notre Dame University for higher academics.
This year has been quiet tough for the church as they lost one of their most promising and loved priest, Fr Benjamin Costa, CSC, left us. He had initiated the journey for Notre Dame University Bangladesh and this is the first missionary university.
Till date, the church has been renovated four times. The first renovation was done in 1714, followed by the second one in 1940 and the third one in 2000. The fourth renovation is currently going on as it's almost time for Christmas. It started after the celebration of All Saints' Day on November 2. "This church always looks beautiful as it radiates a sense of calmness and serenity when we enter its altars, but I find it the best on All Saints' Day as the whole graveyard is filled with twinkling candles and flower petals" shared Brother Binoy when asked about his attachment towards the church.
The difference between the width of walls and the parts of the roof suggest that the eastern part of the Church was built later. Apart from that, all other construction dates back at the time of the British Raj. It's still stand today, well maintained and listening to pleads for peace.
The writer is studying at Department of English Notre Dame University Bangladesh
Photo: Alex Romario
